The deal for Lennox Lewis to make his first defence of the undisputed world heavyweight title against America's unbeaten Michael Grant at Madison Square Garden on April 29 was finalised today. Importantly, too, Lewis' handlers have managed to head off the IBF, who were making an impossible demand that Lewis must defend their version of the title against number one contender David Tua by April 13. The IBF have now followed the lead of the WBC and agreed to recognise the second Lewis-Evander Holyfield fight in Las Vegas in November as Lewis' mandatory defence. Lewis has thus been given until next November to fight Tua, vital time needed by an undisputed champion to fulfil his title commitments.
Lewis said, "I only want to fight the best and out of all the people out there, Grant is the most creditable. I want to fight Grant to give the other organisations a chance to find a worthy man for me to fight. I'm very happy to be boxing again in April." Lewis' promoter Panos Eliades spent five days with the champion in Montego Bay, Jamaica, after the Millennium celebrations to seal the contract which could earn him $12 million, depending on the pay-per-view figures. The 6ft 7in Grant will receive $ 3.5million. Eliades said, "Lennox and I planned our strategy in those five days and everything has been agreed with Grant's handlers. I have managed with my legal people to agree with the IBF that Lennox does ot have to fight their mandatory challenger until November. The WBC took the Lewis-Holyfield fight as the mandatory commitment. The IBF have now followed suit. And as far as the WBA is concerned, we lodged papers in court on the basis that their is no binding contract for Lewis to fight Henry Akinwande. We wanted a final eliminator between the first and second contenders. Now Akinwande may be out and it makes a stronger case for the second and third-ranked fighters to have a play-off."
Holyfield could take Grant's place in a WBC final eliminator with another American John Ruiz for the right to meet Lewis. If the results fall the way of The Real Deal, it is feasible that Lewis and Holyfield could fight for a third time in 2001. First, though, is Grant - and if Lewis successfully completes that spring mission in the Big Apple, he could then fight in Britain for the first time in nearly six years, since losing his WBC title to Oliver McCall at the Wembley Arena in his first reign as champion. Eliades wants a quick home defence - with South Africa's Frans Botha the favourite opponent at the moment - in late June or early July before the mandatory fights become due. Madison Square Garden submitted the biggest offer for Lewis-Grant, beating off a bid from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
